Unless you have plenty of money, then university and an ATPL are out - it's one or the other. Average UK university costs are £10K course fees for domiciled students (up to £30k for foreign students) per year, with average living costs of £12pa (15 in London). So, a three year degree outside London is going to cost £66k or more, 4 years will be £88 or more. Then you can factor in the time for lost earnings at university, realistically £30k or more pa, depending on where you end up flying, and the three years less pension contributions and three years more of house price rises before you can consider your first buy... All for a degree you'll never need or use.